kippen



March 24, 1964 A. J. KIPPEN 3,126,136

HOLSTERS .Filed Jan. 11, 1961 INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. KIPPEN WW.M

ATTOR NEY United States Patent 3,126,136 HGHTERS Albert J. Kipp-en, Rte. 5, Frederick County, Md. Filed Jan. 11, 1%1, er.No. 81,965 2 Claims. (Cl. 224-2) This invention relates to holsters, and more particularly to holsters of the type carried on a belt.

The object of this invention is to provide a holster of the class described which fits snugly on the belt against the side of a person wearing the holster.

As a feature of this invention whereby the object thereof is achieved, the closure flap, which retains the gun in the holster and prevents accidental firing, passes between the side of the wearer and the belt such that when the flap is snapped in place, the engagement of the flap with the gun draws the holster tightly against the belt.

The more important feature of this invention has thus been outlined rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will also form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures for carrying out the several purposes of this invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to be granted herein shall be of sufficient breadth to prevent the appropriation of this invention by those skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a front view of the holster showing it connected to a belt and illustrating how engagement of the closure flap of the holster with the hammer of the gun helps the holster to be snugly attached to the belt.

FIGURE 2 is a view of the holster from the side facing the wearer and showing details of construction of the holster.

Referring to FIGURE 1, gun holster has pocket 11 formed of a single piece of leather that is folded upon itself at the front 12 of the holster and stitched as at 13 on three sides to define a closed end 14 and an open end 15. Pistol 16 is inserted into the open end of the pocket.

Pocket 11 has one side 17 which faces the wearer at an opposite side 18 that faces away from the wearer. At the edge 19 of side 17 that defines a part of open end 15 is belt flap 20 integral therewith. Belt flap 20 is bent outwardly from side 19 as shown in FIGURE 1 at 21 and extends toward closed end 14 of the pocket on the exterior thereof. Flap 20 terminates in free end 22, and has belt engaging surface 23 on one side and exposed surface 24 on the opposite side. Belt engaging surface 23 faces side 17 of the pocket and is closely adjacent thereto, so that belt 25 can normally pass between side 17 and surface 23. The connection at 21 rests on the top edge of the belt and limits movement of the holster relative to the belt in one direction.

Closure flap 26 is also connected to side 17 of the pocket adjacent free end 22 of flap 20 but slightly closer to closed end 14. Flap 26 extends toward open end 15 and has a portion 27 engaging exposed surface 24 of belt flap 20. A conventional snap fastener 28 on surface 24 and on portion 27 releasably connects the closure flap to the belt flap as shown in FIGURE 1. Beyond portion 27, closure flap 26 passes across open end 15 of the pocket into engagement with hammer 29 of piston 16. Beyond engagement with hammer 29, the free end 31 of flap 26 passes into engagement with side 18 of the pocket. A conventional snap fastener 32 on side 18 and the free end 31 of flap 26 releasably connects the closure flap to the pocket.

In order to attach the holster to a belt, the wearer releases fasteners 28 and 32. Free end 31 of flap 26 is inserted between the body of the wearer and the belt, and the holster pulled upwardly until the belt passes between surface 24 and portion 27. Belt 25 can then be placed between side 17 and surface 23 as shown in FIGURE 1. Fastener 28 is then attached together thereby retaining the holster on the belt. When pistol 16 is inserted into open end 15 of the holster, flap 26 can then be turned over the open end and into engagement with hammer 29. Then, when fastener 32 is attached, portion 27 of flap 26 is tightly drawn toward side 17 thereby snugly holding the holster to the belt of the wearer.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun holster comprising a pocket having a closed end and an open end, a belt flap integral with one side of the pocket at the open end thereof, said belt flap extending toward the closed end of the pocket on the outside thereof and terminating in a free end, said belt flap having a belt engaging surface on one side and an exposed surface on the opposite side, said belt engaging surface being adjacent said pocket, a closure flap connected to the exterior of said one side of the pocket closer to the closed end of the pocket than the free end of said belt flap, said closure flap extending toward the open end of said pocket and having a portion engaging the exposed surface of said flap, and releasable fastener means on the exposed surface of said flap and on said portion of the closure flap whereby the belt flap is releasably connected to the closure flap in order to mount the pocket on a belt, said closure flap passing across the open end of said pocket into releasable engagement with the opposite side of the pocket for retaining a gun in the holster.

2. A gun holster comprising a pocket having a closed end and an open end, a belt flap having one end connected to one side of the pocket at the open end thereof, said belt flap extending toward the closed end of the pocket on the outside thereof, said belt flap terminating in a free end and having a belt engaging surface on one side and an exposed surface on the opposite side, said belt engaging surface being adjacent said pocket, a closure flap connected to the exterior of said one side of the pocket adjacent the free end of said belt flap, said closure flap extending toward the open end of said pocket and having a portion engaging the exposed surface of said flap, said closure flap passing across the open end of said pocket into releasable engagement with the opposite side of the pocket, and releasable fastener means on the exposed surface of said flap and on said portion of the closure flap whereby the belt flap and closure flap can be releasably connected to mount the pocket on a belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,620 Dana July 19, 1910 1,633,319 Estwing June 21, 1927 2,410,640 Engle Nov. 5, 1946 

1. A GUN HOLSTER COMPRISING A POCKET HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END, A BELT FLAP INTEGRAL WITH ONE SIDE OF THE POCKET AT THE OPEN END THEREOF, SAID BELT FLAP EXTENDING TOWARD THE CLOSED END OF THE POCKET ON THE OUTSIDE THEREOF AND TERMINATING IN A FREE END, SAID BELT FLAP HAVING A BELT ENGAGING SURFACE ON ONE SIDE AND AN EXPOSED SURFACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, SAID BELT ENGAGING SURFACE BEING ADJACENT SAID POCKET, A CLOSURE FLAP CONNECTED TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID ONE SIDE OF THE POCKET CLOSER TO THE CLOSED END OF THE POCKET THAN THE FREE END OF SAID BELT FLAP, SAID CLOSURE FLAP EXTENDING TOWARD THE OPEN END OF SAID POCKET AND HAVING A PORTION ENGAGING THE EXPOSED SURFACE OF SAID FLAP, AND RELEASABLE FASTENER MEANS ON THE EXPOSED SURFACE OF SAID FLAP AND ON SAID PORTION OF THE CLOSURE FLAP WHEREBY THE BELT FLAP IS RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO THE CLOSURE FLAP IN ORDER TO MOUNT THE POCKET ON A BELT, SAID CLOSURE FLAP PASSING ACROSS THE OPEN END OF SAID POCKET INTO RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POCKET FOR RETAINING A GUN IN THE HOLSTER. 